Just got this phone a few days ago, unlocked, and using it with Cingular in northern CA. Reception is fine, as long as you stay in remotely populated areas. If you live out in the countryside and your reception is shaky as it is, I probably wouldn't recommend it, but for somebody living in the suburbs who works in the hills and chills in the city, it works great! But no, w/o the 850 it won't be released on Cingular's network.